09/04/2026
The common perception is that most Malaysians don't want to work in construction or manufacturing. That they won't do the 3D jobs: dirty, dangerous, and demeaning.
But how true is that, really?
We ask Dr. Mimi Aminah Wan Nordin, Ph.D, MBA & Muna Munirah, founders of Qwork.my, a platform matching local talent with industrial workforce needs and building real career pathways in Malaysia's heavy industries.
The short answer: they do. The problem is that they can't see a future in these roles.
"It's hard for anyone to be interested in a job when they can't see the progression," says Dr. Mimi.
"That's why we work closely with TVET centres, to show workers exactly what that progression looks like from day one."
Through partnerships with TVET centres, Qwork maps out what a career in manufacturing, construction, or oil and gas can actually look like. Start on the factory floor. Move into a supervisory role within three years. Eventually, an oil and gas career.
"We make them see the long term," says Dr. Mimi. "We show them how they can progress, where they start, where they can go, & what they could eventually become. That's what incentivises them."
Founded in 2018 and backed by Cradle Fund's commercialisation programme, Qwork was built on one belief: people deserve to work in roles that match their skills & employers deserve access to the right talent when they need it.
โก๏ธ Why this matters now more than ever
Malaysia recorded over RM34 billion in foreign worker remittances in 2023 alone, money leaving an economy that is importing skills it already has. And Malaysians are actually willing to do these jobs.
As a university lecturer, Dr. Mimi had watched this mismatch play out for years.
"It's hard to watch students study so hard, only to be unable to find a job in the field they spent so much time preparing for. At the same time, we're importing talent when we already have the talent here."
โก๏ธ Why Artem Ventures Believed In Qwork
"We backed Muna and Dr. Mimi before we fully backed the market. That is a rare thing to say with confidence." says Tunku Omar Asraf, Partner at Artem Ventures who led the investment round.
"We invested in Qwork because Muna and Mimi are building the future of work for people who have been left out of every prior version of it. That is both the right thing to do, & we are increasingly certain, a very good investment."
With Artem's investment, Qwork is also expanding into Vietnam and potentially Thailand, targeting to double its gigger base & upskilling hours, while extending impact to rural communities across Malaysia, Indonesia, & Singapore.
โก๏ธ The road ahead in 2026
Qwork maintains partnerships with MAIDA, Digital Penang, MBAM, NCIA, and MIDA, linking government investment pipelines with industry workforce needs.
In 2026, the company is in the midst of a strategic fundraising round alongside an open equity crowdfunding (ECF) campaign.
For investment opportunities, contact Dr. Mimi at [email protected]
